Hakeem Nicks Cut by Titans: Latest Comments and Reaction

Four months after taking a flier on veteran wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, the Tennessee Titans have decided to cut bait with the 27-year-old. 

According to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com, Nicks was released by the Titans ahead of the deadline for teams to get their roster down to 53 players. The team later confirmed the decision to part ways with the wideout. "Nicks could still return, however, after Week 1 when veteran salaries are no longer guaranteed," McCormick later added.

Nicks has fallen on hard times since back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the New York Giants in 2010-11. He signed with Indianapolis as a free agent in 2014, recording career-lows in receptions (38), yards (405) and yards per reception (10.7). 

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport noted on Twitter that Nicks is "a source of frustration" because he's a big wide receiver who "doesn't play big."

Nicks' release still comes as a surprise because Tennessee may need depth. Justin Hunter is scheduled to stand trial on September 15 for a misdemeanor following an assault-and-battery charge, per Adam Vignan of the Tennessean. 

As far as the Titans' thinking in releasing Nicks, Rotoworld.com's Evan Silva speculated that it could lead to more immediate playing time for rookie Dorial Green-Beckham. 

Tennessee's offense looks fascinating on paper with rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, the big-play potential of Green-Beckham, who is 6'5", and Kendall Wright as the steady No. 1 wideout. 

Nicks is still young enough to be an attractive option for teams wanting to take a gamble on a once-great player, but his steep drop in production over the last three years makes it clear that his days of being an impact player are over.